God Incarnate - OK that's a WOW!!!

The Thought of GOD INCARNATE, is not a small thought. Prophets for millenniums could not fully fathom its depths. Commentaries and countless books have been written about it. It is HUGE...and certainly, in this blog I'm not going to cover it but a grain of sand's worth.

To think that God would give up anything to become a human is beyond me. To imagine compressing, all that God is into a small human form. To try and grasp the limitations He would subject Himself to, such as time and space, in order to be acquainted with our griefs and our sorrows...Is more than I can seem to understand from my selfish perspective.

In my humaness, I look at it all, and realize, I would NOT do the same. I do NOT do the same.
How often I am led by my own selfish motivations, unwilling to go to lengths of such significance. NOR CAN I... It is NOT in mankind's ability or power. There is NO resource within us to be able to accomplish the same measure of self sacrifice.

This is the Power of CHRISTmas to me...Not that sweet little baby Jesus was born...as we oooh and aaaahh as if at any little baby...."oh how sweet" - But with mouth wide open, dumbstruck in shock, stunned at the weight of it, almost terrified at the thought of it:

- 'OH MY GOD!' Why would you do such a thing for me?' How is it that you didn't think this unfitting for you to do, to enter my world, to humble yourself so much, to give up your Throne for a feeding troth?!'

No wonder the Angels heralded His coming...THEY KNEW he was worthy! No wonder They looked on PERPLEXED and amazed at the Greatest Gift to man. That HE WOULD COME, compelled by LOVE, to restore a creation that was completely LOST and without HOPE had He not come!

I Pray that each person gets to enjoy the Season of Love, Peace and Joy. The Love of God that compelled Him to Incarnate Human flesh, to be acquainted with our Griefs and sorrows, living among us, dying for us & Rising in power to prove His ability to restore us. Such Love brings a rejoining, redeeming and reconciling - Which is true peace, and that understanding anchors our hearts in the most tumultuous of situations, assuring our hearts and strengthening our souls with true joy.

I don't think we are to live as if today is to be our last and try to set all of our ducks in a row before we meet our maker. BUT to --LIVE-- as if its our first...out of amazement, awe, and a security and power stronger than death....a revelation that makes us see eternity, and His Throne as more real, more tangible, more substantial than any earthly elation or trial.

May we each allow the truths of this season to awaken our desperate hearts.

Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com

Working, Running, Faithfully Journeying!

So it's been a while since I've been on, probably because I have been working so much...I am thrilled to have been hired by Lighthouse Mission and share of who I am. I am able to bring all my strengths to the table and help undergird a ministry I have respected and participated in for some time now.

This is not without it's challenges...I have never written a grant, never been that type of person that asks for things for free...At garage sales, I don't so much as bargain over anything...If I want it I pay for it.

But God has been showing me that as we grow in Him, he calls us continually to new places, new challenges, new excercises in growth and strength. Additionally, we are always to remember that our life is not our own, and just like a soldier who is told to go stand on the front line some where or charge an enemy...I am asked to do things that in my own comfort zone I would never dare to do. Yet here I am not my own...and I need to literally, mentally, put my self aside and faithfully do as commissioned...even against my natural character might lean.

It is hard, and yet thrilling to see God back it all up, with company after company coming through to assist, donating time, resources and $$ to support the Mission!
I am astounded.

Following the Lord is not an easy walk, I don't think we are going to get to the point where we 'retire' until we actually breathe our last breath! I heard a message on Sunday that talks about running the race and finishing well...It was a dramatic comparison of our walk with the agonizing marathons of grecian olympics. The word Agon in the Greek is used for race...very interesting, because at times our walk, our run, our race in Christ for the prize of God is just that AGONizing...and yet the most rewarding!

So enjoy the journey, enjoy the challenges, enjoy the run, and faithfully continue stedfast to the end!!!